Multi toned · Black zirconium
Relieved black
From £255
Black cut back to bright metal along both edges.
Heated in air, zirconium forms a black ceramic oxide at its surface. This design machines that oxide away at the shoulders so the pale metal beneath shows through. The black is not applied plating, but harsh contact can still damage the surface.
Made to order · 2 to 3 weeks · posted insured
Before you order, in one place
- What you are buying
- Relieved black, black zirconium, made to order in your size. Widths 4 to 10mm.
- Price
- £255 total. UK delivery and engraving are included and nothing is added at checkout.
- When it arrives
- 2 to 3 weeks to make, then one working day insured and signed for. Delivery in full
- Changing your mind
- 30 days from delivery, return postage paid, unless you have it engraved. The cancellation right
- Who you are contracting with
- Trothe Ltd, registered in England and Wales, company number 17431230, Lytchett House, 13 Freeland Park, Wareham Road, Poole, Dorset, BH16 6FA. Questions and complaints to hello@trothe.co.uk.
- MaterialBlack zirconium
- Surface hardnessMohs 8
- Density6.5 g/cm³
- ResizableSpecialist assessment
- HallmarkedNot applicable, non precious
- MadeTo order, in your size
- Delivery2 to 3 weeks, insured
- Returns30 days, unengraved
- EngravingOptional, included, inside the band
Also in: Wedding rings, Promise rings, His and hers, Men's rings
About this ring
Relieved black, in detail
A black zirconium band with its shoulders cut back. The oxide is machined away along both edges, so pale metal shows on each side and the black stays as a broad band across the centre. The result is two thin rims of light around a dark face, which gives the ring a crisp outline and makes the black look deeper by contrast. The whole ring is satin, so the bright edges have a soft sheen rather than a mirror shine, which sets it apart from its polished-bevel neighbour.
How it wears
The black centre is a hard oxide, about Mohs 8, formed from the metal rather than plated on. The pale edges are the zirconium beneath, which is softer, and they gather fine marks where the ring meets the world; in a satin finish those marks read as part of the texture. A hard knock can damage the black, and a pale mark there may just be transferred metal. Zirconium is hypoallergenic, and at 6.5 grams per cubic centimetre it has a settled, noticeable weight.
Choosing yours
Width shifts the balance between black and bright. On a narrow band the two pale edges sit close together and the ring reads as properly two-tone; on a wide one the black takes over the face and the edges become fine outlines.
Several rings in the range are drawn to sit beside it. Hammered black brings texture for someone who wants it, and Brushed centre, polished bevels gives a brighter, polished edge. On its own it suits anyone who likes black but wants the ring to keep a clean line against the skin.
Width by width
| Width | How it reads | Weight, est. | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4mm | Slim, the quietest everyday width | 2.1g | £255 |
| 5mm | Between slim and classic | 2.6g | £255 |
| 6mm | Classic, the usual starting point for a band | 3.2g | £255 |
| 7mm | Classic to broad, more of the pattern shows | 3.7g | £255 |
| 8mm | Broad, a ring that is clearly there | 4.2g | £280 |
| 9mm | Wide and bold, best on a larger hand | 4.7g | £280 |
| 10mm | Wide and bold, best on a larger hand | 5.3g | £280 |
Weights are estimates for a plain band of the same width in black zirconium at UK size N with a 1.6mm wall, from the model in our ring weight calculator. The price steps up at the widths that take more metal to make.
How it compares with the rings nearest it
| Ring | What sets it apart | Metal | Widths | Surface hardness | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relieved black (this ring) | Black cut back to bright metal along both edges. | Black zirconium | 4 to 10mm | Mohs 8 | £255 |
| Twin groove | Two tones divided by a V cut around the centre. | Black zirconium | 4 to 10mm | Mohs 8 | £255 |
| Stepped two tone | A machined step, black on one level and bright on the other. | Black zirconium | 4 to 10mm | Mohs 8 | £255 |
| Twin lines, black | Two bright lines through matte black. | Black zirconium | 4 to 10mm | Mohs 8 | £269 |
There are 17 black zirconium bands in the range, from £199 to £625. All about black zirconium.
The metal, in brief
Heating zirconium forms a black ceramic oxide at its surface. The colour comes from that oxide, rather than applied black plating. It is a hard surface over a softer metal core, so scratch resistance does not mean the whole ring is black or immune to damage.
Surface hardness Mohs 8, density 6.5 g/cm³, and hypoallergenic, so it is a sound choice for skin that reacts to nickel. It is not a precious metal, so it carries no hallmark.
Compared side by side: Anodised zirconium or black zirconium, Black zirconium or titanium, Black zirconium or sterling silver. Or read the full black zirconium guide.
Work it out before you order
About Relieved black
- Can this ring be resized?
- Black zirconium needs specialist assessment. GETi describes resizing as difficult and time consuming, rather than completely impossible. The oxide surface, construction and requested size change need consideration. Do not assume a local jeweller can alter it or that a replacement is automatic. Ask whether the proposed solution alters the original band or supplies a remake, and confirm the finish, engraving, cost and timing.
- Is engraving included?
- Yes, and it is optional. Leave the box blank and the ring is made plain. If you do want one it is laser cut inside the band where the ring is made, rather than sent out to a third party, and there is no charge and no extra wait.
- How long will it take?
- 2 to 3 weeks. It is made in your size after you order, not picked off a shelf, and that is the reason the widths and finishes are open choices.
- Can I return it if I have it engraved?
- Not for a change of mind. An engraving makes the ring clearly personalised, which puts it outside the statutory right to cancel, and it cannot be resold. Every ring shop draws the line here. Order it plain and you keep the full 30 days. Either way, a ring that arrives faulty or is not what you ordered is covered by the Consumer Rights Act, which nothing waives.
- How much does the Relieved black ring weigh?
- About 2.1g at 4mm, 3.2g at 6mm, 5.3g at 10mm, estimated for a plain band in black zirconium at UK size N. Larger sizes and wider bands weigh more. It is a light ring by any standard: 18ct gold of the same size is more than twice the weight.
- What widths does it come in, and do they cost the same?
- 4 to 10mm. 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 7mm are £255, and 8mm, 9mm, 10mm £280, because the wider bands take more metal to make.
- What is closest to the Relieved black in the range?
- Twin groove (black zirconium) and Stepped two tone (black zirconium). The comparison table on this page sets them side by side on metal, width, hardness and price.
- What if I get the size wrong?
- If it is unengraved, return it inside 30 days and we refund it, and we pay the postage. Use the free ring size finder first if you are unsure, and if the ring is a surprise, ask us and we will talk you through the ways to find out without asking them.